DeKalb: More Snow, Less Salt

Add DeKalb to the growing list of cities cutting back on salting roads.

Credit Susan Stephens / WNIJ

Public Works Director T.J. Moore says effective immediately, the city will only apply salt to main roadways and areas considered dangerous. Residential streets will no longer be salted, under the city’s emergency plan. Moore issued a news release Thursday saying that residents should expect some streets to become snow-packed with the next round of snowfall expected Saturday.

DeKalb has 250 tons of salt available, according to Moore. He says the city has 800 tons on order from the state, but “does not want to depend on future shipments that may not arrive on time.”

Another Helping of Snow on the Way

There’s a winter storm watch for northern Illinois from Friday night through Saturday afternoon. Some areas may receive more than six inches of snow. Driving could be hazardous during this storm, especially in parts of central Illinois and Indiana, where snow is expected to mix with sleet and freezing rain.

January has been the third snowiest month in Chicago history, according to the National Weather Service, with 33.5 inches measured. Rockford has seen worse, however. While the 15 inches that have fallen this month are five inches above average, that total doesn’t even crack Rockford’s top 40.

How’s My Driving?

With up to ten inches of new snow predicted in the next week and a half, and road salt reductions on the horizon, the City of DeKalb offers reminders of how to drive in icy conditions:

1. Allow additional space between you and the cars around you. Braking distance will be impacted on snow packed streets and it will be more difficult to stop.

2. When stopping, avoid sudden movements of the steering wheel. Avoid locking of brakes on glazed ice as it will cause a loss of steering and control. Every City block and every mile of highway may be different, depending upon sun or shade and the surface of the roadway. You must be aware of the conditions where you are.

3. There is no such thing as a “safe” speed range at which you may drive on snow or ice. You can very quickly find yourself driving too fast for conditions.